Anomia: A State of Lawlessness

Word of the Week

June 28, 2025

Anomia: A State of Lawlessness

 

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

1 John 3:4

 

“There’s no law against it!”

People use that line to defend their questionable behavior, whether it involves a drunken spree, manipulative fine print in a contract, or blowing their paycheck on lottery tickets.  They minimize the seriousness of the action by claiming that it’s legal.

Does that logic hold up?

Let’s look at the Bible for our answers.

For the last few weeks we have looked at some of the Greek words for sin:

Hamartia – missing the mark

Paraptōma – crossing the line

Adikia – not conforming to a standard

Each word provides a picture of bad behavior, but I can already hear someone protesting, “But I didn’t break the law!”

This week we are going to consider a fourth Greek word for sin – one that describes it as breaking law.

The Greek word for “law” is nomos.  Add the letter alpha and it becomes anomos, “lawless.”  The noun version is anomia [ah-naw-MEE-ah], usually translated “lawlessness.”

In the secular Greek world, anomia could have two meanings:  (1) the absence of law, or (2) ignoring existing law.  Greek cities all developed codes of law that governed their citizens, and the Roman empire was built on its foundation of laws.  It was a world where there were laws backed by the authority of the state.  If you broke those laws, you could face serious consequences!

In the secular world, political authorities determined the laws.  However, when .you move to the biblical world, sin is an offense against the law of God.

The apostle John states it clearly:  “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).

Sin is more than an accidental step across a line; it is a violation of the moral law of our Creator.  In most cases, it goes against one of the commands given on Mount Sinai or one of the clear statements of Scripture.

However, this verse remains true even if a person commits a sin not specifically mentioned in the Bible.  Romans 2:14-15 teaches that each of us has God’s law written on our hearts, even if we don’t have the written law available to us.  We are like the rich ruler who claimed that he had obeyed all the commands of the law.  Jesus knew his heart and instructed him to sell everything he had – not because property is forbidden, but because it was his idol.

The word anomia occurs 15 times in the New Testament and we learn several important principles from these passages:

1. Lawlessness can take the form of either actions or attitudes. Jesus scolded the religious leaders for being outwardly righteous but inwardly filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:28).
2. Lawlessness is serious business, because God hates it. Jesus spoke sternly about those who practiced lawlessness (Matthew 7:23; 13:41).
3. Lawlessness will be a leading characteristic of the end times leading up to the return of Christ (Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:7). The Antichrist is described as “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
4. Christ died to redeem us from lawlessness (Titus 2:14). His death paid the penalty for every lawless deed we have ever committed.
5. Even the worst lawlessness can be forgiven. Paul exults, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven” (Romans 4:7).  And God promises “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17).  If you come to Christ for forgiveness, He will grant it.

The bottom line:  Sin is always an offense against the moral laws of God, either those that He has expressed in words or those that contradict His righteous character.  When you break the law, you are guilty.  However, Christ died to pay the penalty for your sin.  If you turn to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will grant it.  You can submit to the rule of the Divine King.

Study Hint:

One of the best ways to fill out this study more fully is to examine the cognate adjective anomos. [Cognate means another word in the same family.]  To help you take this extra step, here are the verses where that word appears:  Luke 22:37; Acts 2:23; 1 Corinthians 9:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:9; and 2 Peter 2:8.

 

Coming Up

To celebrate the Fourth of July, we are going to take a look at the Greek word for freedom.  Join us and add an extra dimension to your celebration.

Ezra Project 2025